Memphis Tennessee

January the 5^th 1864

 

Dear Beloved Wife it is with the greatest of pleasure that I can enjoy the preasant oportunity of righting you a fiew lines to let you no that I am well and I hope when those fiew lines comes to hand they will find you in the enjoyment of good health

 

            Well Cordelia you canot imagin the trouble that I am in about you and them sweet little children for it is so cold that I am afraid you will all most freeze to death it is colder hear this winter than it has ever ben now / there was to negro soldiers froze to death on guard a fiew nights ago it is very cold standing on picket and we have to go on guard every other day well it is so cold hear in our tent that I can hardley hold my pen to right we have a small stove in our tent but it dont do mutch good I have frosted one of my ears and one of my feet on picket I am afraid that it is so cold there that you will all freeze to death this winter I want you to right often as you can and let me no how you are all getting along and all / about the cold wether up there you dont no how well I would like to be at home with you this winter but I hope that we shall not have to spend another winter in the armey Well Cordelia it is so cold that I cant right mutch for I have to keep my ink setting on the stove to keep it from freezeing while I am righting so nothing more at preasant but I remain your Affectionate and loveing Companion to my Beloved Wife and sweet little children Hugh Bay to Cordelia A Bay right soon

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